Suppose we take James' example of the young man and the object of his affection as a single case of a general principle (James doesn't appear to be arguing for knowledge, per se, in the example): Does having faith in a particular outcome affect the chances of that (presumably desired) outcome actualizing? Resoundingly - no.
The young man can have all the faith imaginable that his intended likes him, but I disagree that this will increase the chances of her actually liking him - changing his behaviour towards her, based on faith, may actually push her away, or make her indifferent toward his advances. Suppose I have a mountain of faith that I will win tonight's lotto drawing, or that I won't be involved in a car crash tomorrow, or that my best mate Jimbo will be the first Maori in space by the end of next week. The odds of these events aren't going to change depending on my faith that they will or won't come to pass.
But let's give James the benefit of the doubt that faith is in fact a means to knowledge. It strikes me that this can be the case only by happenstance. Trees are made of wood, not wool. A burning, passionate, faith-based belief that trees are made of wool isn't going to change anything. The same level of faith that trees are made of wood is simply comporting with what we already know to be true, irrespective of faith.
If you have faith, you're unlikely to care much for knowledge. If you have knowledge, you have no need for faith.
Boru
The young man can have all the faith imaginable that his intended likes him, but I disagree that this will increase the chances of her actually liking him - changing his behaviour towards her, based on faith, may actually push her away, or make her indifferent toward his advances. Suppose I have a mountain of faith that I will win tonight's lotto drawing, or that I won't be involved in a car crash tomorrow, or that my best mate Jimbo will be the first Maori in space by the end of next week. The odds of these events aren't going to change depending on my faith that they will or won't come to pass.
But let's give James the benefit of the doubt that faith is in fact a means to knowledge. It strikes me that this can be the case only by happenstance. Trees are made of wood, not wool. A burning, passionate, faith-based belief that trees are made of wool isn't going to change anything. The same level of faith that trees are made of wood is simply comporting with what we already know to be true, irrespective of faith.
If you have faith, you're unlikely to care much for knowledge. If you have knowledge, you have no need for faith.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
